More (British band)


More are a British heavy metal band who were part of the new wave of British heavy metal scene in the early 1980s. They recorded two albums and two singles, and opened the German 1981 Rock Festival Golden Summer Night at Stuttgart and Darmstadt in August 1981, as well as the Monsters of Rock festival at Donington Park one week later.

Career

Initially the band was fronted by vocalist Paul Mario Day, who had sung in an early incarnation of Iron Maiden. By the time of their second album, Frank Darch and Laurie Mansworth had left, the latter going on to form the band Airrace. Andy John Burton was recruited as the new drummer and the band became a four-piece. Bassist Brian Day also left during the recording of the second album, to be replaced by Barry 'Baz' Nicholls.
Following Paul Mario Day's subsequent departure from the band, the line-up of Cox, Nicholls, Burton and vocalist Mick Stratton released a 7" single called "Trickster" in 1982, before splitting up.
Kenny Cox revived More briefly in 1985, with vocalist Ron Jackson, guitarist Mel Jones, bassist Baz Nicholls, and Paul George on drums. Following that, Kenny Cox moved on to the band Mammoth with ex-Gillan and Sun Red Sun bassist John McCoy and ex-Samson vocalist Nicky Moore.
A further attempt to reform the band occurred in the spring of 1998, with Mike Freeland featuring on vocals. A track called "My Obsession" was recorded by this incarnation of the band, but they split up shortly afterwards in the year 2000.
In 2011, Andy John Burton recruited Baz Nicholls, Mike Freeland, Paul Stickles and special guest Chris Tsangarides to form a More tribute band called Exmore. They performed live at the Headbangers Open Air Festival in July 2011, with a Warm up show at the Astor Theatre in Deal, Kent before the festival plus an after festival club show on the Sunday. It was this small club gig and the amazing reaction from the enthusiastic audience which led to the band wanting to carry on flying the More colours.
Exmore played a co-headlining show with Marseille at the Sir Robert Peel venue in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey on 15 October 2011.
The following year, the band changed their name to More 2012 and scheduled further shows, including: 26 May at the Railway venue in Bolton, 23 November at the Red Lion pub in Gravesend, Kent, and 1 December at the Hard Rock Hell VI festival, with Steve Rix on drums.
An appearance at the 'Metalwave UK' festival in Purfleet, Essex, alongside Praying Mantis, Dennis Stratton, Cloven Hoof, Chariot and Deep Machine, took place on 5 October 2013, followed by a performance at the 'Heavy Metal Maniacs' festival in Amstelveen on 19 October 2013.
In May 2014, Dave John Ross replaced Paul Stickles on guitar. Further concert appearances were then scheduled for the 'Bang Your Head!!!' festival in Balingen on 12 July 2014, and the Hard Rock Hell VII festival in Pwllheli on 15 November 2014.
In 2015, the band played at Legends of Rock Festival in Great Yarmouth and Hard Rock Hell VIII festival in Pwllheli. In November and December 2016, the band undertook a short European tour as special guests to German band Bonfire, taking in shows in Belgium, Germany and Holland.

Line-ups

First line-up
Second line-up
Third line-up
Fourth line-up
Fifth line-up
Sixth line-up
Exmore / More 2012 line-up
MORE 2012 Eighth line-up

Albums

Warhead
Blood & Thunder